emery



2 Sheets-sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W.'D. SMITH.

METHOD 0E LAYING ELECTRIC WIRES.

A ateEte'd Sept. 8', 1885.

.Attorneys N. PETZRs. nulwLimrwhw. wam' mn. D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. D. SMITH.

v METHOD 0E' LAYING ELECTRIC WIRES. AN0.. l825,984. Si Patented Sept. 8,1885.

A 0.........1.1/u.2 a

.Httorneys N. PETERS. Phowmmmpmr, wminpon D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

WALTON DUANE SIWIITH, OF PROPHETSTOVN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OFTHRED-FOURTHS TO OYRUS EMERY, CHARLES E. EBIERY, AND OORA L. EMFRY, OFSAME PLACE.

METHOD OF LAYING ELECTRIC VJIRES.

SPECl-HGATION t'erntlng part of Letters Patent No. 325,984, datedSeptember 8, l885.

Application filed September 13, 1384.

T all whom i may concern:

Beit known that I, VVALTON D. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Prophetstown, in the county of Whiteside and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods ofLaying Telegraph, Telephone, and Electric XVires, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.This invention relates to an improved method of laying telegraph,telephone, and electric wires; and it consists in the following steps,viz: first, cutting the wires to proper and convenientlengths,insulating or covering I5 the wires except at the ends, and thenconnecting them together in a bunch or series; second, incasing the saidbunch or series in a shell and insulating them therein to complete theconnection, third, placing this shell con- 2o taining the wires in asect-ion of pipe, the uncovered ends of the wires protruding beyond thesections; fourth, coupling the uncovered ends of the wires together,ifth, coupling the sections of the pipes together and insulating thewires at each joint to form an unbroken connection, and, sixth,attaching the serviceboXes and elbow-joints at the various peintsdesired.

The invention also consists in an improved 3o sub-method of insulatingthe wires preparatory to their reception into the pipes, also, in animproved sub-method of coupling together each section of t-he entiresystem; and, finally, in an improved sub-method of forming each sectionof the whole system, all as hereinafter set fort-h, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view showing aportion of my 4o improved system ot' pipes in which the wires areincased, the parts being joined together. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the eX-pansion-joint for the metallic pipes. Fig. 4L is an enlarged View of thecoupling-joint. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the elbow-joint.Fig. 6 is a detail view of the iusulated wires bent previous toinsertion in the elbow. Fig. 7 is a detail view ofthe service- 5o box.Fig. Sis a detail view, enlarged, of one section of pipe and itscoupling-piece which (No model.)

connects it with the adjoining section. Fig. 9 is a side view of alength of wire which 1s insulated or covered, exceptl at the ends. Fig.-Y

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the wires aresecured inthe shell. 6o Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of theconnection which holds each section together.

I Fig. l-l is an enlarged sectional view of the cylindrical disk whichreceives the ferrules for covering the protruding ends of the wires.Fig. l5 is a detail View of one of the ferrules. Fig. 16 is an enlargedsectional view of the cylindrical disk, showing the protruding ends ofthe wires fitting in the fer-rules.

Like letters are used to indicate correspond 7o ing parts in the severaliigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the wires, which are cut andstraightened to proper and convenient lengths-say twelve, fourteen. orsixteen feet--and covered with insulating 7 5 material, except aboutone-half inch at each end, which is left bare or uncovered. Thisinsulating of the wires may be performed in any Suitable manner and withany well-known material; but I prefer the following method, 8o viz: Thewires are first given a heavy coat of shellac, except the ends a (tthereof, and allowed to dry, when a ribbon of moist paper is woundspirally the whole length, with the eX- cept-ion of the aforesaid endsa. XVhen the paper is perfectly dry, one or two coats of shellac areapplied to the outside ofthe same, thus `forming a perfect insulati11g-case for the wire,

as seen more clearly in Figli).

B designates perforated disks made ofheav y 9o paper, wood, rubber, orother suitable material, and slipped along the wires at suitableintervals, said disks serving to keep the insulated wires at an equaldistance apart. In Fig. 10 I have shown the disks perforated 95 withfive holes to carry a corresponding number of wires; but it will beapparent that I may increase the number of wires and correspondinglyincrease the number of holes in the disks, as may be found desirable.

O designates a paper shell or case slotted longitudinally along its top,as at b, (see Fig.

11,) and arranged to receive the series of wires when connectedtogether, as in Fig. 10. )Vhen the wires have been placed therein, somesuitable liquid insulating material is poured into the shell or casethrough the narrow opening b, lling all the spaces between the wires,(see Fig. 12,) and when hardened forming a peri'ect connection with theshell or case. This melted insulating material may be asphaltum,sealing-wax, paraline-wax, or any other suitable material, and is pouredtherein from a ladle.

Vire bands D D are employed to encircle the shell or case at suitableintervals to hold the latter and the inelosed wires iirmly together.When this has been completed, the wires are in condition to be placedinto the sectional inclosing-pipes, which I will now proceed todescribe.

E E designate the several sections which when joined compose the conduitor system. Each of these complete sections, as shown in Fig. 8, iscomposed or" two lengths of metallic pipe, d d, externally threaded atthe ends cf.

F designates an expansio1i-joint,(see Fig. 3,) which connects the innerends, e, of the lengths of pipe d. This joint may be a slip-joint, andfor that reason I do not wish to be restricted to any particularconstruction of the same. However, I prefer the construction shown,which consists ot' a short length of pipe internally threaded at each ofits ends for a small space, as at g y, the portion of the pipe betweenthe threaded ends being raised and formed with corrugations 7L h. Asseen, the threaded ends g ot' the eXpansible pipe are arranged to engagewith the externally-threaded inner ends, e, ot' the lengths of pipe d,and connect the latter together, the corrugations h serving toaccommodate the expansion and contraction of the same. Vhcn the twolengths d are connected together they complete one section, E, oftheconduit or system, so that the paper shell or case containing theinsulated wires (seen in Fig. 12) may then be placedinto the section,the uncovered ends ofthe wires projecting outwardly at each end of thesame. (See Fig. S.)

G designates the coupling-joint for connecting the ends of the sectionsE E together to complete the system. rIhis coupling-joint (seen clearlyin Fig. 4) consists of three piecesviz., the end pieces, t i, and themiddle connecting-piece, y'. The end pieces, t', are internally threadedat the outer end, k, for a short distance to engage with theexternally-threaded outer ends, f, of the lengths of pipe d, theremainder of the piece t', from where the threads 7c terminate to theopposite end, being provided with a swell or shoulder, Z. rIhe latter isexternally threaded nearly its whole length, and the middleconnecting-piece, j, is internally threaded to engage with the externalthreads of each of the end pieces, 13. In putting up the sections E ofthe system I prefer to attach the end pieces, i, to each end ofthe same,as seen in Fig. S, so that when it comes to applying the sectionstogether it will not be necessary to screw the piecest over the threadedends f, since they will be in their proper position to receive thecentral coupling or connecting piece, j. By screwing the latter over theend pieces, t', the sections E E are drawn together to complete thesystem, the expansion-joint in the center of each section allowing forthe necessary contraction and expansion.

To enable the system to turn corners, I enr ploy elbow-joints. (Shown indetail,Fig. 5.) These elbow-joints I-I are formed in half-sections m m,each provided with lugs a a for the passage ot' screws or rivets o o,which serve to secure the sections m together. The ends of eachhalt-section m are externally threaded at p p, to receive the endpieces, t' t, of the coupling-joint G, the connecting-piece j serving`as a means of attachment to the sections ot' the system. rIhe insulatedwires which pass through the elbow-joints are rst bent and then placedin three perforated disks,B,as shown in Fig. 6, and then inserted in onehalfsection of the elbow. The reason these el bow-joints are made inhalfseetions is so that the short lengths of bent insulated wires andthe disks may be placed in one halt' of the shell of the elbow and thenthe other hall" riveted to it, which could not be done were the ljointmade in a single piece. The elbowjoints II are enlarged at the bend, forthe purpose of holding insulating material, which is poured in throughthe hole q after the sections m are riveted together, the hole q beA ingfor the same purpose in all the iigures. rIhe two halt'sections areunited by the screws or rivets, and the insulating material is thenpoured in at the hole q, so as to iill the enlargement at the bend andprotect the wires and disks B from displacement. I now have aseries ofsections, E, with the insulated wires tted therein and arranged to becoupled together, and elbowjoints with the wires also placed in positionand in condition for coupling to form the complete system.

In order to make the connection between the wires continuous the wholelength of the system, I propose to insulate and connect the uncoveredprojecting ends of the said wires. To this end I employ a couplingcylindrical receptacle or disk, I, (shown in enlarged seetion, Fig. 14,)having a series of perforations or holes, r, formed therein for thereception ot cylindrical ferrules J. The latter are embedded in theholes r ofthe disk, and in practice would be about one inch in length.The disks are made of paper, rubber, wood, or other suitable material,and to be about two inches long, the holes r therein registering exactlywith the protruding wires on the ends of each section of the conduit orsystem. In applying the disks or receptacles I the protruding uncoveredends of the wires ot' the two meeting sections E E are thrust throughthe IOO IIC

holes r of the receptacles I so as to meet together in the ferrules J,as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The connecting or coupling piece] is thenapplied to draw each section together and complete the system. Holes orperforations are formed in each connecting or coupling piece j, similarto the holes q in the elbowjoints, so that melted insulating materialmay be poured through said holes to fill the space K between theadjoining edges of the sections E. Vhen the uncovered ends of the wirescome together end to end in the ferrules J, they occupy the Whole lengthof the ferrules, a short portion of the insulated or covered Wireoccupying the space between the end of the ferrule and the end of thedisk. Thus, when the coupling-joint G or the space K Within the same isfilled with insulating material, the connection of the wires will beunbroken and complete from one end of the systeni to the other. It willbe seen that the metallic shell may expand or contract without in anyWay interfering with the insulating niaterial, While the individualWires can expand and contract without interfering with the insulation.

L designates service-boxes connected at intervals along thesystem, andprovided at each end with holes s s, from which threaded pipes ttproject, the connectiiig-pieces j screwing ont-o the threaded pipes andconnecting with the end pieces, fi, of the adjacent section E. Adiaphragm, M, is arranged centrally across the service-box,so as tosupport the short sections O O of insulated wire, which are united tothe meeting sections E E by the disks I and ferrules J, beforedescribed. The short sections O are spread ont laterally in theservice-box, so as to be handy to scrape awaythe insulating material onsaid short sections when making connection with other wires leading totelegraph-instruments, telephones, &e. rlhe connection with such wiresis shown by the letters u a, Fig. I.

It will readily be seen that another line of this same system may beconnected at the serv` ice boxes and run into or through buildings.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understoodfrom the foregoing description, taken in connection with the annexeddrawings.

In preparing and layingdown my improved system I first insulate thewires and arrange them in a series, and connected by the perforateddisks B. The wires are then placed in the paper shell or case, Fig. ll,and held firmly therein, the insulating material being poured into theshell or case to complete the connection. When thus iiicased, the wiresare placed in each of the sections E E of the systeni. The protrudinguncovered ends of the wires are coupled by the disks I and ferrules J,and the sections E are then coupled by the joints Gr. In turning cornersthe elbow-joints H are employed, the protruding wires of the same beingcoupled to the wires of the sections in the manner described, and theelbowjoint itself coupled to the sections E by the joint G. IIheservice-boxes are connected, and the system is then complete.

As before stated, cross systems may be connected to the service-boxes torun into or through buildings, &c. My improved system or conduit isapplicable for telegraph, telephone, and electric wires, and several of'the systems of metallic pipes may be carried through alarge conduitofbrick or stone work.

Each of the sections E and the elbow-joints II have the wires insulatedor fitted therein, and the end pieces, i', attached to the ends, so thatit will. be a very easy matter to couple the wires and sections togetherin forming the system.

The system above described is simple in construction and convenient toapply. It is not expensive to manufacture, and will prove of greatutility and benefit for the purposes intended.

Having described my invention, I clarinl.. The herein-described methodof laying telegraph, telephone, and other wires to form the entiresystem, consisting in the following steps, viz: iirst, insulating orcovering the wires, except the ends thereof, and then c onnectingthewires together in abunch or series; second, incasing the bunch or series.in a shell or case and insulating them therein to complete theconnection; third, placing this shell containing the wiresin asectioiiof pipe, the uncovered ends of the wires protruding beyond the sections,fourth, coupling the uncovered ends of the wires together; fifth,coupling the sections of the pipe together and insulating the wires ateach joint to form aii unbroken connection, and,sixth, attaching thefeivice -boxes and elbow-joints at the various points desired, as setforth.

2. rlhe herein-described sub-method of insulating the wires, preparatoryto their reception iiito the pipes, of each section of the entiresystem, consisting in the following steps, viz: first, insulating orcovering the wires, and then connecting them together in a bunch orseries, second, ineasing the bunch into a shell; third, pouringinsulating material through the shell around the wires,and,finall y,binding the shell and wires together, as set forth.

3. Theherein-described sub-method of coupling together each section ofthe entire system, consisting in, first, passing the uncovered ends ofthe wires projecting from the pipes into perforated disks in which theymeet; second, coupling the sections of pipe together, and, finally,pouring insulating material through the coupling-joints around the wiresand disks to forni an unbroken connection, as set forth.

It. The herein-described submethod of forming each section of the entiresystem, consisting in the following steps: rst, eutting the wires toproper lengths, insulating theln, und connecting them together inzthunehIn testimony that I clni 1n the foregoing :1s or series; second.inousing the bunch or series my own I have hereto a'tixed my signature1o in n Cylindrical shell and insulating,` it therein in presence of twowitnesses. to complete the connection, third, hinding XVALTON DUANESMITH.

5 the shell und hunch together, and, fourth, I

pia-Ging this shell with its Wires in a section i Witnesses: of pipe,the uncovered ends of the Wires pro JAMES SCARRI'LT, Jr., jeeling beyondthe pipe, as set forth. H. F. BROWN.

